Temporary support for electrical outlet box

ABSTRACT

A temporary support for an electrical outlet box mounted inwardly of the outer surface of a wall. A transverse member extends across outer portion of box and engages outer surface of wall and outer portion of box upon movement thereof into substantial alignment with each other. Spring means operatively connected to transverse member has oppositely disposed end portions extending outwardly and detachably connected to box urging transverse member and box toward each other.

United States Patent Yates 15] 3,674,913 July 4, 1972 [54] TEMPORARYSUPPORT FOR ELECTRICAL OUTLET BOX 72] Inventor: Kenneth Yates, Vinemont,Ala.

[73] Assignee: Donald B. Allison, Vinemont, Ala. a part interest [22]Filed: July 9, I97] 211 Appl. No.: 161,008

[52] U.S. Cl ..174/48, 174/58, 220/3.5, 248/27, 248/DIG. 6

[51] Int. Cl. ..H02g 3/12 [58] Field ofSearch ..174/48, 49,58,53,57;220/32, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.9; 248/DIG. 6,

I56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,565,327 8/1951 Shaw ..2 4s27 x 2,758,810 8/1956 Good ..220/3.9 X 2,793,782 5/1957 Austin ..220/3.6X 3,180,595 4/1965 Brunsting et al ..248/27 Primary Examiner- Lewis H.Myers Assistant Examiner -l). A. Tone [57] ABSTRACT A temporary supportfor an electrical outlet box mounted inwardly of the outer surface of awall. A transverse member extends across outer portion of box andengages outer surface of wall and outer portion of box upon movementthereof into substantial alignment with each other. Spring meansoperatively connected to transverse member has oppositely disposed endportions extending outwardly and detachably connected to box urgingtransverse member and box toward each other.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUL 4 I872 3. 674. 91 3 INVENTOR.Kenna Z/7 Yafes TEMPORARY SUPPORT FOR ELECTRICAL OUTLET BOX BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a temporary support for anelectrical outlet box and more particularly to means for retaining anelectrical outlet box or boxes in place during the installation of theusual conduits, wires and the like whereby the outlet box is retained inproper position until the box is anchored in place by mortar or thelike.

I-Ieretofore in the art to which my invention relates, difficulties havebeen encountered in installing electrical outlet boxes and thecomponents, such as conduits, wires and the like, connected thereto dueto the fact that the outlet box is usually left in a loose, unsupportedposition within a cavity provided in a supporting wall, such as aconcrete block or the like. Accordingly, as the electrical conduits areconnected to the outlet box and wires are drawn therethro ugh, theoutlet boxes are often pulled inwardly of the cavity whereby the outletbox is not positioned properly relative to the outer surface of theconcrete block. This not only necessitates considerable labor and effortin repositioning the outlet box but also often results in the outlet boxbeing improperly installed. This is especially true in view of the factthat the outlet box is often moved before the mortar sets between theoutlet box and the adjacent supporting surface, such as the cavity in aconcrete block.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with my invention, Iprovide a temporary support for the outlet box which comprises atransverse member which extends across an outer portion of the box inposition to engage the outer surface of a supporting wall and the outerportion of the box upon movement of the box into alignment with theouter surface of the wall. Spring means is operatively connected to thetransverse member and is provided with oppositely disposed ends whichextend outwardly and are detachably connected to the outlet box wherebythe outlet box and the transverse member are urged toward each other tothus retain the box resiliently in proper position whereby the boxautomatically returns to proper position relative to the wall in theevent the box is moved during installation of other equipment connectedto the outlet box.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing my improved temporary supportretaining an outlet box in proper position relative to a supportingwall;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmental, sectional view taken generally alongthe line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 5 is a fragmental, sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4 butshowing a modified form of my invention.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of my invention,I show a conventional type, electrical outlet box which is shown ascomprising a rectangular receptacle 11 which is adapted for connectionto the usual conduits 12 for receiving electrical wiring. Secured to theforward side of the receptacle 11 is a rectangular member 13 whichdefines a plaster ring which is spaced from the cavity 14 provided in awall structural member, such as a concrete block 16. As shown in FIG. 1,the concrete blocks are connected to each other by the usual mortarjoints 17. After the outlet box 10 has been installed and the conduits12 and the electrical wires are connected thereto in the usual manner,mortar, plaster or the like is positioned between the cavity 14 and theadjacent portion of the plaster ring 13 whereby the outlet box isanchored in proper position.

To retain the outlet box 10 in place during installation of the conduits12 and the electrical wiring, I provide a temporary support unit whichcomprises a transverse member 18 which is of a length to extend acrossan outer portion of the outlet box 10 in position to engage the outersurface 19 of a wall-like member such as the concrete block 16.Accordingly, upon movement of the outer portion of the outlet box 10into substantial alignment with the outer surface 19 of the concreteblock 16, the transverse member 18 engages both the outer portion of theoutlet box 10 and the outer surface 19, as shown in FIG. 2.

Detachably connected to the transverse member 18 is a support bracket 21which is of a generally U-shape, as shown in FIG. 2, with the legs ofthe U-shaped member terminating in outtumed flanges 22 which engage theouter surface of the transverse member 18. As shown in FIG. 4, thetransverse member 19 is provided with outwardly projecting detents 23 inposition to engage openings 24 provided in the flanges 22 whereby thesupport bracket 21 is detachably secured to the transverse member 18.

The base of the U-shaped support bracket 21 is reduced in size as at 26for receiving loop-like ends 27 of elongated tension springs 28 whichextend outwardly in opposite directions, as shown in FIG. 1, to provideoppositely disposed end portions 29 which are provided with hook members31 which engage the usual openings 32 provided in the outlet box 10.Accordingly, the spring members 28 extend outwardly and inwardly, afterinstallation, whereby the outlet box 10 and the transverse member 18 areurged toward each other. Since the transverse member 18 is held againstinward movement relative to the cavity 14, the outlet box 10 is urged toa position whereby the outer portion thereof is in substantial alignmentwith the outer face 19 of the block 16, as shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 5, I show a modified form of my invention in which theouttumed flanges 22 of the support bracket 21 are secured rigidly to thetransverse member 18 by retaining screws 33. Accordingly, the sametransverse member 18 is always employed with the support bracket 21shown in FIG. 5. On the other hand, with the structure shown in FIGS, 1through 4, the effective length of the'transverse member 18 may bevaried by merely attaching the support bracket 21 to transverse members18 of selected lengths to thus span various size cavities or openings14.

From the foregoing description, the operation of my temporary supportfor outlet boxes will be readily understood. The outlet box 10 isinstalled in the usual manner whereby the conduit l2 and the electricalwires are operatively connected to the outlet box. After installation ofthe outlet box 10, the transverse member 18 is positioned across thecavity 14 and the support bracket 21 is positioned whereby the tensionspring members 28 are in alignment with the openings 32 provided in theoutlet box. With the support bracket 21 thus positioned, the hookmembers 31 are inserted in the openings 32 whereby the tension springs28 urge the outlet box 10 toward the transverse member 18. As the outletbox 10 and the conduits 12 connected thereto are moved duringinstallation of adjacent equipment, the outlet box 10 is free to moverelative to the cavity 14 but always returns to proper position relativeto the face 19 of the wall 16 due to the force exerted by the springs28. Accordingly, the outlet box is constantly returned to properposition each time it is moved within the cavity 14. After completeinstallation of the electrical equipment, mortar, plaster or the like isapplied between the cavity 14 and the adjacent portion of the plasterring 13 while the tension springs 28 retain the outlet box in the exact,proper position until the mortar sets.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised an improvedtemporary support for an outlet box or boxes which is simple ofconstruction, economical of manufacture and one which assures properinstallation of the outlet box regardless of the amount of movement ofthe outlet box after initial installation of the box. While I have shownthe apparatus as being associated with a single outlet box, it will beapparent that a gang of outlet boxes may be supported in place by merelyconnecting the outlet boxes to each other, if they are not so connected.Also, my improved apparatus may be employed to retain larger electricalboxes in place, such as switch boxes or the like, by positioning thetransverse member 18 across the comer of the switch box whereby it isretained in position as it is properly anchored in place by mortar orthe like.

While I have shown my invention in but two forms, it will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptibleof various other changes and modifications without departing from thespirit thereof.

What I claim is: a

1. ln a temporary support for at least one electrical outlet box mountedinwardly of the outer surface of a wall-like member:

a. a transverse member for extending across an outer portion of saidoutlet box in position to engage said outer surface of a wall-likemember and the outer portion of said outlet box upon movement of saidouter portion into substantial alignment with said outer surface,

b. spring means operatively connected to said transverse member andhaving oppositely disposed end portions extending outwardly, and

c. means for detachably connected said end portions to said outlet boxfor urging said transverse member and said outlet box toward each other.

2. A temporary support for at least one outlet box as defined in claim 1in which said transverse member is an elongated plate-like member.

3. A temporary support for at least one outlet box as defined in claim 1in which said spring means operatively connected to said transversemember comprises:

a. a support bracket carried by said transverse member and projectingoutwardly from one side thereof, and

b. elongated tension spring elements attached to said support bracketwith oppositely disposed end portions of said spring elements extendingoutwardly.

4. A temporary support for at least one outlet box as defined in claim 3in which said support bracket is a generally U- shaped member havingouttumed flanges detachably connected to said transverse member.

5. A temporary support for at least one outlet box as defined in claim 3in which said end portions of said spring elements are provided withhook-like members.

1. In a temporary support for at least one electrical outlet box mountedinwardly of the outer surface of a wall-like member: a. a transversemember for extending across an outer portion of said outlet box inposition to engage said outer surface of a wall-like member and theouter portion of said outlet box upon movement of said outer portioninto substantial alignment with said outer surface, b. spring meansoperatively connected to said transverse member and having oppositelydisposed end portions extending outwardly, and c. means for detachablyconnected said end portions to said outlet box for urging saidtransverse member and said outlet box toward each other.
 2. A temporarysupport for at least one outlet box as defined in claim 1 in which saidtransverse member is an elongated plate-like member.
 3. A temporarysupport for at least one outlet box as defined in claim 1 in which saidspring means operatively connected to said transverse member comprises:a. a support bracket carried by said transverse member and projectingoutwardly from one side thereof, and b. elongated tension springelements attached to said support bracket with oppositely disposed endportions of said spring elements extending outwardly.
 4. A temporarysupport for at least one outlet box as defined in claim 3 in which saidsupport bracket is a generally U-shaped member having outturned flangesdetachably connected to said transverse member.
 5. A temporary supportfor at least one outlet box as defined in claim 3 in which said endportions of said spring elements are provided with hook-like members.